Gearless differential power transmission



Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

F. W. SEECK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15. I919.

GEARLESS DIFFERENTIAL POWER TRANSMISSION.

PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND w. SEECK, or LEBANON, OREGON.

GEARLESS DIFFERENTIAL POWER TRANSMISSION.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented Oct. 1.2, 1920.

Application filed December 15. 1919. Serial No. 345,156.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINAND W. SEEoK, a citizen of the United States, and a resi-. dent of Lebanon, county of Linn, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gearless Differential Power Transmission, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to differential power transmission of the type described in my previous application for patent filed August 11, 1919, Serial No. 16,893, and the purpose of my present invention is to provide a S1IIl-' pler device and which for that reason may be preferred by the manufacturer.

The construction and operation of my present invention is more readily described by having reference in the first instance to the accompanying drawings which show the following views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the mechanism constituting my invention, the section being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow-heads Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow-heads Fig. 3 shbws a side elevation partly in-section of the transmission element 12, looking in the directions indicated by the arrows 3, in Figs. 4 and 5, and the section portion being taken on the broken line indicated by the arrow-head 33 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively elevations of the front and rear faces of said transmission-member 12; v

. Fig.6 is a horizontal section on the plane of the broken line 66 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow-heads;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the crank-ele ment 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 7 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a combined top View and horizontal section of the transmission member 16; the section being taken on the plane of the broken line 8 of Fig. 2 looking down; and

Fig. 9 is a central, vertical section of the last mentioned transmission member.

2 and 3 are the divided axle-sections. On

the axle-section 2 is mounted a crank-elemember 4 is provided with an axial portion 5, and with a peripheral, perpendicularly projecting circumferential flange 6. On the axle-section 3 is mounted a crank-element 7, the eye of the hub of which is adapted to be rigidly mounted on the square end of said axle-section 3. The crank-element 7 is rotatably mounted on the axial portion 5 of the crank-element 4, and-it is provided with opposite eccentric portions 8 and 9, lying in different planes and making a straight angle with each other. On said eccentrio portions are mounted rings 10 and 11, the perimeter of each of which rlngs consists of opposite straight parallel surfaces and opposite arcuate surfaces, as

shown in Fig. 2. On thering 11 is mounted a reciprocated transmission member 12, provided with straight parallel inner surfaces J 13 and other straight parallel inner surfaces 14 normal to the surfaces 13 the surfaces 13 and 14 lying in different planes as seen from Fig. 3. The straight surfaces of the ring 11 have a sliding bearing on the inner surfaces 13 of the transmission member 12, and the straight surfaces of the ring 10 having a sliding bearing on the surfaces 14 of said transmission member 12. The latter is made with arcuate slots 15 adapted to receive the peripheral flange 6 of the crank-element 4 as of the part 21 of the divided transmission case; the other part 21 of said transmission case being bolted to the part 21 by means of bolts 22. To the transmission case 21 is bolted a ring-gear 23 by bolts 24; said ring-gear meshing with the pinion 25 which is assumed to be fast on the driving-shaft 26 of the engine.

The transmission case parts are provided with hubs 27, to receive the hubs of the crank-elements 5 and 7.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The rings 10 and 11, mounted on the cocentric portions 8 and 9 of the crank-element 7 both slide in the transmission member 12 in planes radial to the axis of rotation of the crank member 7 and perpendicular to each other; the transmission member 12 part . running over a curve in the road then either axle section is permitted relative independent rotation, in so doing causing a relative displacement of the slidable parts but not changing their relations to the combined devices as a whole, and hence still transmitting power to the wheels carried .by the two axle-sections, though at different rates.

I claim:

1. A differential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a

divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmlssion-case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said annular transmission member in a path normal to the'line of motion of the latter, devices connecting the companion transmission-member with one crank-element, and means cooperatively connecting said companion transmission-member with the other crank element, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

.2. A differential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission-case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, having guide bearings normal to the path of its reciprocation, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said guide-bearings of the annular transmission member, devices connectin the companion transmission-member wit one crank-element, and means cooperativelyconnecting said companion transmissionmember with the other crank element, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

3. A differential transmission mechanism comprisin a driven transmission-case, a divided ax e whose sections are j ournaled in the transmission-case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, one of said crank-elements having an axial trunnion, the other crank-element being mounted on said axial trunnion, and having eccentric portions making a straight angle with each other, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said annular transmission member in a path normal to the path of motion of the latter, devices connecting the companion transmission-member with one crank-element, and means cooperatively connecting said companion transmission-member with the other crank element, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independentrotation relative to the other.

4. A differential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission-case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, a companion transmission member reciprocatingin said annular transmission member on a path normal to the line of motion of the latter, said companion transmission member having a central opening with straight opposite parallel guide-faces normal to each other, rings having straight sides sliding on said straight faces of the companion transmission member,-said rings being mounted on said eccentric portionsof one of said crank-elements, means cooperatively connecting said companion transmission-member with the other crank element, whereby the crank elements 100 arev jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

5. A differential transmission mechanism 105 comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, one of said crank-elements having a circumferential 110 flange, an annular transmission member reciprocablein the transmission case, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said annular transmission member in a path normal to the line of motion of the 115 latter, said companion transmission member having a central opening with straight opposite parallel guide-faces normal to each other, rings having straight sides sliding on said straight faces of the companion transmission member, such rings being mounted on said eccentric portions of one of said crank-elements, said companion transmission-member fiurther having arcuate slots in which the circumferential flange of one of tation relative to the other.

6. A diiierential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, one of said crank-elements having a circumferential flange and an axial trunnion, the other crank-element being mounted on said axial trunnion, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said annular transmission member in a path normal to the line of motion of the latter, devices reciprocable in paths normal to each other connecting the companion transmission-member with one crank element, the other transmission-member having arcuate slots in which the circumferential flange of one of said crank-elements bears, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but'either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

7. A differential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, one of said crank-elements having a circumferential flange and an axial trunnion, the other crank element being mounted on said axial trunnion and having eccentric portions making a straight angle with each other, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmis sion case, and made with a guide bearing normal to the path of its reciprocation, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said guide-bearings of the annular transmission member, devices reciprocating in paths normal to each other connecting the companion transmission-member with one crank-element, said companion transmission member being made with arcuate slots in which the circumferential flange of one of said crank-element bears, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

8. A differential transmission mechanism comprising a driven transmission-case, a divided axle whose sections are journaled in the transmission case, a crank-element mounted on each axle section, one of said crank elements having a circumferential.

flange and an axial trunnion, the other crank-element being mounted on said axial trunnion and having eccentric portions making a straight angle with each other, an annular transmission member reciprocable in the transmission case, and made with a guide bearing normal to the path of its reciprocation, a companion transmission member reciprocating in said guide-bearings of the annular transmission member, said companion transmission member being made with a central opening having straight opposite parallel guide-faces normal to each other, rings having straight sides sliding on said straight faces of the companion transmission member, such. rings being mounted on said eccentric portions of one of said crank-elements, said companion transmission-member being made with arcuate slots, in which said circumferential flange of one of said crank elements bears, whereby the crank elements are jointly driven by the rotation of the transmission case, but either crank element is permitted independent rotation relative to the other.

FERDINAND W. SEEGK. 

